Mechanical seal



` March 2,-1948. l ,y E. LANAsTER MECHANICAL SEAL Filed Oct. 23, 41946 FIG-.2

FlGnl .Dn E. T S A C N A L E J INVEN TOR.

y Patented Mar. 2, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFlCE 2,436,866 c 'I v MECHANICAL SEAL .mm E. Lancaster, New York. N. Y., mum;- to

Worthington Pump' and Machinery Corporation, Harrison, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application October 23, 1946, Serial No. 705,033 s claims. (ci. 28s-9) s l This invention relates to a mechanical seal for preventing the escape of fluid throughthe joint between a rotating shaft and the wall of a fluid assembled by persons having no indoctrination in the art.

A second object is to lower the initial and replacement costs of a seal by providing a construction in which the members receiving the maximum corrosive and wearing action are of simple annular shape so that they may be easily and cheaply manufactured from corrosion resisting and wear resisting material.

Another object is to provide a novel means for transmitting rotary motion from the shaft to one of the sealing members. 1

An additional object is to provide means for fixing one of the sealing members to the wall of the vessel and draining fluid leaking between the sealing members.

With these and other objects in view. as may appear from the accompanying specification, the invention consists of various features of construction and combination of parts, which will be first described in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing a mechanical seal for rotating shafts of a preferred form embodying the invention, and the features forming the invention will be specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings: A

Figure 1 is a vertical cross section of a joint employing a seal as disclosed by this invention.

Figure 2 is a section taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail plan view of the clamping member.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the collar and back-up member showing the means for transmitting rotary motion.

Referring to the drawings. I represents a shaft rotating in and through the wall 2 of a vessel.

The outside ofthe wall 2 is preferably adapted at 3' to provide a snug recess for sealing ring l. Sealing ring 2 is stationary and fixed to the wall 2 by a clamping member I2.4 Thesealing ring 3 acts as a bushing for the rotating shaft I aswell as a seal against fluid passing from the interior ot the vessel and is therefore made from mate- Second sealing ring 4 is pressed into orother-v wise fixed to the collar 5 and moves with it. The collar 5, has fingers or projections at its outer end which engage for rotary motion with registering slots on the inner end of the cylindrical back-up member 6. Back-up member 6 is xedly related to the shaft I by suitable means such as radially extending set screws 1. Rotary motion is therefore transmitted from the shaft I to the back-up member' 6 and through the fingers and slots to the collar 5 and sealing ring I. The nger and slot attachment of collar 5 and back-up zo member -6 is similar to a jaw clutch arrangement and while the members are joined for rotary movement, relative or independent axial movement of the collar 5 and ring-4 may occur with respect to the shaft I, and back-up member 6.

25 'I'he outer end of the cylindrical back-up member 6 ismachined to fit the rotating shaft I and carry the set screws l but the inner portion is bored to a diameter somewhat larger than the shaft I. A spring 8 ts around shaft I in backup member 6 andl bears against'the inside of its outer end. The other end of the spring II'forces a compression ring 9 against the wedge shaped packing I0 which transmits the pressure to the sealing ring 4. Since sealing ring 4 is mounted for relative axial movement, pressure of spring 8 forces it against the face of sealing ring 3. Pressure of the spring 8 on the wedge shaped packing rings III also forces them laterally against the shaft I and the inside wall of the collar 5 to prohibit passage of fluid beyond the packing rings. Any fluid leaking by the first sealing ring I will therefore be forced to pass through the joint I'I formed by the interacting faces of the4 sealing rings 3 and l.

tion inlet l5 leading to the internal drain-off ring v I I whereby a suitable lubricating medium may be supplied to the wearing parte. v

casacca matter to disassemble the seal and replace the worn parts. This may be accomplished either by unloosening set screws I and sliding of! the backup member 6 Aor by moving thevessel and wail 2. The sealing ring `4 and the packing rings I0 may then be replaced. Ii sealing ring 3 is worn, clamp member I2 must also be removed.

Since the repair/parts 3, land I are of inex pensively prepared annular shape and their replacement requires no trained personnel, maintenance costs of this type of seal are reduced to a minimum.

What is claimed is:

1. In a mechanical seal for a'shaft rotating in a iiuid containing vessel, a first sealing member, a second sealing member, deformable packing members comprising wedge shaped rings having their wedge faces interacting, a compression member, a spring member, a back-up member for said spring member, means for fixing said.'A backup member to the shaft for motion therewith, each of said members being of annular form with shaft receiving openings and arranged in series relationship, a collar member, said second sealing member being attached to said collar member for movement therewith, means for transmitting rotary motion from the back-up member to the co1- lar member'and the second sealing member, said last mentioned means being constructed and .arranged to permit axial movement of said collar relative to. the shaft and back-up member, a clamp member for fixing said first sealing member to the vessel, said clamp member fitting about said collar member and having an internal annular groove with an outlet therefrom for draining ofi fluid leaking through the interacting faces of said rst and second sealing members.

2. In a mechanical seal for a shaft rotating in' sealing member'to the vessel, said clamp member iitting about said collar member and having an internal annular groove with an outlet therefrom' for draining oi fluid leaking through the interacting faces of said first and second sealing members, and means for transmitting y:rotary motion cof from the back-up member to the collar memberA #s Y 4 and the second sealing member, said last mentioned means comprising registering slots and iingers on said back-up member and said collar member whereby said collar member is attached to said back-up member for rotary motion therewith but is capable of axial movement relative thereto.

3. In a mechanical seal for a shaft rotating in a iiuid containing vessel, a first sealing member, a second sealing memberfdeformable packing members comprising wedge shaped rings having' their wedge faces interacting, a compression member, a spring member, a back-up member for said spring member, means for iixing said backup member to the shaft for motion therewith,

" each of said members being of annular form with lingers on said back-up member and said collarmember whereby said collar member is attached to said back-up member for rotary motion therewith but is capable of axial movement relative thereto, said spring memberacting through said compression member to force said wedge shaped packing members laterally against collar member and the shaft and axially against said second sealing member to hold the second sealing member'in intimate contact with the rst sealing member.

JOHN E. LANCASTER.

` REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name j 813,398 1,895,497 2,025,279 v 2,112,461 y2.328.328 2,374,353

Date

Steefel Jan. 31, 1933 Gilman Dec. 24, 1935 Kohler Mar. 29, 1938 Curtis Aug. 3l, 1943 Jacobsen Apr. 24, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 'Country Date Great'Britain 1910 Number 1.369

Barnes Feb. 27, 190s 

